Vancouver Folk Music Festival welcomes international artists from Ukraine, Niger, New Zealand, and beyond

Renowned musical talents from around the globe will come together for a weekend of performances and workshops at ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park

SPONSORED POST BY Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Ukrainian singer-songwriter Krut.

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival has long been known for presenting some of the finest folk and roots singers and musicians from across North America. Artists such as Pete Seeger, Ani DiFranco, Queen Ida, Holly Near, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, and countless others have performed on festival stages over the last 46 years.

The festival is also renowned for hosting artists from every corner of the globe at ʔəy̓alməxʷ Jericho Beach Park in a remarkable weekend of musical talent. From the festival’s earliest days, it has evolved into a go-to event for audiences from B.C. and beyond to experience artists, sounds, and cultures they may not otherwise get to hear and see live.

This year, the festival will welcome artists and groups from more than 16 countries. They’re coming from Ukraine, Mexico, the U.K., Sweden, Brazil, South Africa, Morocco, Ireland, and New Zealand (Aotearoa), among a number of other locales. These artists bring with them not only their cultures and traditions, but also their innovative and contemporary world views, and their stories of joy and struggle, their hopes and dreams.

Swedish-Estonian band Fränder. Photo by Palli Kristmundsson

Among the talented international artists performing is Ukrainian songstress Krut playing her country’s national instrument, the 65-string bandura (a cross between harp and guitar). Audiences will see Māori performers Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura, Sahara desert-blues band Etran de L’Aïr, Nordic modern-acoustic folk band Fränder, outspoken singer for social justice, Grace Petrie, the rich voice of Ireland’s James Vincent McMorrow and many others.

Throughout the weekend at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, audiences will see special sessions, known as “workshops”, on the festival schedule. A workshop is a unique gathering of music artists drawn together around a theme or topic. This could be instrumental in nature, like the Guitar Mayhem workshop on July 20 on the West Stage at 1:30 pm, or a bit more esoteric, such as the Magic Carpet Ride session on July 21 on the West Stage at 12:35 pm. Each workshop’s character is decided by the artists involved, resulting in magical moments of on-the-spot collaboration and improvisation. It’s what the Festival is all about —the lived experience, that special chemistry that happens when artists from close to home and from around the globe gather together with an open-hearted audience in a beautiful beach-front park for a weekend of amazing music.

For more artist details and a full schedule of performances and workshops, visit the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

Post sponsored by Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura.